***

That afternoon, Layla entered Malyn’s bedroom with a dark bruise on her face. When Anessa came in and saw Layla’s face, she was shocked and quickly looked at Malyn, clearly wondering what Malyn could have done to Layla’s face.

Of course, Layla couldn’t really admit that she had slapped herself. Malyn, wrapped in her jacquard dress, told her to bring some wine. Throughout the evening, Malyn continued to drink, realising that she might end up drinking more than she had intended.

Her premonition had come true. After hurting Malyn like that, it was as if the king had finally revealed his true nature, for each day he became more violent towards her. Before he had been content to leave scratches and small bruises on her body, but now he pinned her to the bed and strangled her, only letting go when she was almost unconscious, when her eyes rolled back. There was never a day without bruises on Malyn’s neck, forcing her to wear a veil that covered her from head to collarbone.

The king seemed to enjoy seeing Malyn in pain and suffering. Layla spent more and more time grinding herbs and applying them to Malyn’s wounds. After each time the king hurt her, Malyn dismissed all the other maids, leaving only Layla. At first the other maids were uncomfortable, but the next day they would see Layla with blue bruises on her face, so they gradually began to leave all of Malyn’s care to Layla.

However, only the two of them knew that the blue “bruises” were actually the result of the herbal paste Layla had applied. Malyn had a faint memory of her mother teaching her how to prepare the herbs when she sold them. As a result, Layla no longer needed to bruise her own face. After treating the wounds, they lay side by side on the bed, waiting to fall asleep as they talked.

Layla was born as the second prince of Dion. His mother was deeply loved by the king, but for fear of the queen’s jealousy, she raised Layla as a girl. Layla said that if the king had known she was a boy, the queen would have had him killed.

“But wasn’t that hard to bear?”

Malyn asked innocently as she lay in Layla’s arms, looking up at her face. Layla replied calmly.

“It felt natural to be raised as a girl, so I never minded having long hair. I was used to eating as little as a bird from a young age, so I never really felt the need to eat more.”

“But your body grew…”

“An old maid taught me how to hide it.”

Layla’s mother had died young, his life taken at the hands of the Queen.

“And what about when you came to Veldam and your body grew?”

Layla smiled bitterly at Malyn’s curious question.

“It’s embarrassing, but the hard work made me hungry.”

“……Ah.”

It seemed that the harsh treatment Malyn had given him had led to his hunger. Veldam was a wealthy kingdom, so they didn’t skimp on feeding the princess’s maid. Gaining weight and height was a bit of a problem, though. Layla showed the marks where he had sewn extra fabric onto his clothes.

“I couldn’t afford new clothes, and there weren’t many outfits to hide me in, so I had a hard time adding extra layers.”

“Well, if it’s money…”

Malyn stood up and opened her drawer. There were a few gold coins that King Veldam had given her, but Layla shook her head.

“It’s your money.”

“……”

Layla looked at Malyn with clouded eyes, trying to figure out when he had fallen in love with her, and he wasn’t sure when she had first realised he was a man. Was it when she was fixing her hair by the fountain in front of the hall? Or was it when he thought, “She’s beautiful,” as their eyes met across the fountain while she held her triangular hat? He knew then that someone like Malyn would be better suited to be a princess.

When Layla first suggested that they switch places, so that she would be the maid and Malyn the princess, Layla was both confused and surprised when Malyn said she would only accept the offer if Layla allowed her to slap her on the cheek. Layla was used to having enemies in the king’s palace, but she couldn’t understand why one of her own maids would have such a strong reason to hate her.

But the hand that slapped Layla’s cheek was clearly filled with malice, and Layla finally confessed that she really did hate Malyn at first. Malyn laughed and shook her body.

“When I first arrived at the palace and saw you beating the maids, I thought you were crazy.”

“I thought you were a person full of malice.”

When Malyn played with the necklace, Layla thought she was a cunning little girl. Still, the way she controlled the maids of Veldam was impressive. At least Layla could console himself with the thought that choosing to swap places with this maid wasn’t just a desperate choice, but a rather clever one.

But as Malyn warmed the King’s bed in the early hours of the morning, Layla began to wonder if it had been the right decision. He saw Malyn, her frail body swaying and those sharp eyes still staring fiercely at him. As she watched Malyn being carried away by the other maids, Layla wondered if he had made the right choice.

Wouldn’t it have been better to end it all with death?

But that was not possible. Layla had already brought Malyn into his life. Before, he would have thought that what happened after his death was none of his business. On the surface he pretended to care about Dion after his death, but in reality he cared about nothing. He just didn’t want to die.

But since that night, Layla couldn’t stop thinking about what would happen to that cunning, crazy girl after his death. No matter how Layla felt, the maid continued to do menial tasks for the princess, or rather the prince. But Layla didn’t care. Whenever Malyn entered the king’s chamber, Layla felt a burning rage inside her, and even after he dipped his hands in cold water, he didn’t feel anything.

Even when Malyn let Layla help him bathe, Layla didn’t feel shame, but rather a sense of embarrassment and awkwardness that nearly drove him mad. The girl who entered a man’s room every day seemed unafraid and even asked Layla to rub her chest. The soft and pleasant sensation, something he had never experienced before, made Layla feel dizzy.

Still, Malyn, as if oblivious to Layla’s inner turmoil, gently washed Layla’s hands.

“Ah. That…”

Malyn groaned as she recalled a faint memory. She was probably referring to the time Layla had rubbed oil and salt into her cracked hands to ease the pain. While Layla had thought it would sting terribly when salt was sprinkled on the cracked skin, it seemed to have a different effect on her.

“Look at the underside of my br*ast. You’ll be very pleased.”

Layla couldn’t understand what she was saying at first, but soon he did. Malyn’s br*ast was heavily marked with bright red handprints. It was an obvious sign of how much the King of Veldam had tormented her.

How happy you must be since you suggested switching places with me. You don’t have to get hurt like this. As he heard Malyn speak those words in a sing-song manner, Layla felt a sharp pain in one side of his chest. Happy. But that happiness wasn’t because he didn’t have to be hurt—it was the shameful and overwhelming joy of having saved his life.

But what reason is there for this girl to get hurt every night for my life? When he thought about it, his life didn’t seem so important anymore. In Dion he was a nobody, and in Veldam he was constantly teased. The maid’s job, which he thought would be easy, was anything but. The other maids bullied him for working so slowly, and the knights looked down on him. Would he live like this forever?

He had vowed to run away to the streets, but even with a life on the streets, he couldn’t confidently say that it would be anything great or beautiful. Life in Veldam Castle was miserable, but everyone could see that Veldam Castle was like a warm greenhouse. The King of Veldam was generous to the people of his castle, so at least they never went to bed hungry or cold.

But could Layla have a better life if he ran away?

A good life isn’t just about being full and warm. Besides, when Layla thought of Malyn, he just couldn’t bring himself to leave this place.

“Hmmm… You’re a good person…”

“I’m just saying that I don’t go beyond the bare minimum to be human.”

Malyn seemed to think there were better words than nice, but that was all she could think of. Layla replied gracefully and beautifully. He really was a noble prince.

But even if Layla left Malyn, it was obvious that he would feel a sting in his conscience. Whether Layla was conflicted or not, Malyn continued to live her life well. When Layla saw her reading a book in the library, he admired her almost without thinking. Reading books wasn’t such an impressive feat for Layla, but it was clearly a struggle for Malyn. Yet, despite all her struggles, Malyn sat alone, reading a book.

“……Well, books are expensive…”

“If you want to enjoy something just because it’s expensive and rare, there are dozens of things in Veldam Castle that you could enjoy.”

Malyn felt a bit embarrassed. Her eyes dropped. Layla gently kissed the bridge of her nose.

“When I first saw you reading a book in the warm light, my heart felt a little at ease.”

“Why?”

“Because you smiled, just a little.”

Layla whispered as he brushed Malyn’s hair aside. Despite the humiliation she had suffered that day with the knight groping her, the sight of her smiling face softened his heart.

Malyn, who read aloud from the book from time to time, had a faint smile on her face. The light coming through the library window illuminated the book she was reading, and the sunlight hit the top of her head directly, as she had positioned herself close to the window. The dust in the air was clearly visible, and for the first time since coming to Veldam Castle, Layla was able to sleep soundly.

When Malyn called him over and made him sit in front of her, pulling at his hair to tie it up, Layla’s heart fluttered inexplicably. It was strange. The feeling was different from when his mother had braided his hair as a child. As Malyn carefully combed through the fine hairs near his temples and ears, Layla felt a strange tingling sensation deep in her chest.

No one had ever told him it was love, but Layla found herself sitting in his room, staring at the scar on his right pinkie – the same one Malyn had once bitten. Strangely, just looking at that ugly scar brought back every love poem he had ever known.

And so Layla fell in love.